Ring Report
October 19, 2008

The theme for the October meeting was The Oldest Trick in the Book. Members were asked to perform their oldest trick, or something from their oldest book.

Dr. Wilson performed Beads of Wonder, his adaptation of an effect from Reginald Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584). He showed three wooden beads threaded onto two cords, tied them in place, them removed the beads from the cords magically. In the memorable words of the original source, it was a notable feate of fast or loose; namlie, to pull three beadstones from off a cord, while you hold fast the ends therof, without removing of your hand.

Alan Drew engaged in a playful card routine with Gary Jewell. Alan showed the fronts and backs of a deck of cards, then had Gary pick one. Gary showed the back to the audience, but when asked to show the face, he revealed that he had picked the only double-backed card in the deck. Alan asked Gary to pick another card, but it had a message from Alan instead of a regular face. The third card that Gary picked was the only one in the deck bearing Alan's signature.

Dr. Wilson presented a Teaching Table on Mnemonics. He opened by getting a list of thirty objects from the audience, which he instantly memorized. He followed this by tossing out a three-hundred-page pocket dictionary. As audience members called out page numbers, he told them the first word defined on that page.

Dr. Wilson explained the basics of mnemonics, showing the power of association as an aid to memory. He described some general-purpose mnemonics, including peg sytems based on a rhyming key or on translation of numbers into letters. He showed how mnemonics could be used as a demonstration by itself, or as the basis for psychic effects. He offered sources for further study, including Corinda's Thirteen Steps to Mentalism, several books by Harry Lorayne, and Dominic O'Brien's book, available from lybrary.com.

Full details of the business meeting and photos are available on the Ring's web site (www.ibmring362.org).